14 Day North by Northwest Self–Drive

Day 1 Windhoek

Collect your vehicle and drive to your accommodation where you’ll meet a consultant and have the chance to answer any last–minute questions, the remainder of day is free. Recommend Joe’s Beer House for dinner – it’s a Namibian institution

Day 2 Spitzkoppe/Erongo

Amid strange granite formations on the outskirts of an ancient volcano, flanked by the Namib Desert to the west and mixed–woodland savannah to the east, the Erongo Mountain region form a rare confluence of ecosystems that give rise to remarkable biodiversity, including a vast array of plant, reptile, mammal and bird species that are endemic to Namibia. Enjoy walks and the chance to see ancient Bushman paintings

Day 3–4 Damaraland

Today drive through to central Damaraland, home to free–roaming desert elephants often found wandering around the dry riverbeds in winter months. Whilst here, it is worth a visit to the nearby Living Damara Museum and learn a little of the local Damara culture supporting a community project or visit Twyfelfontein where thousands of ancient rock engravings and paintings are hidden in the hillsides.

Day 5–6 Etendeka Mountain Camp, Damaraland

This wonderful lodge is located in northern Damaraland where your experience with nature is second–to–none. The focus lies on exploring the area by foot and in open vehicles on game drives where you may be lucky to see black rhino or desert–adapted elephants, along with other free–roaming wildlife and nature walks to quartz fields. The hosts enable you to fully appreciate this wonderful wild and rugged location and it’s a firm favourite with visitors

Day 7 Opuwo, Kaokoveld

Depart for the dusty town of Opuwo, the gateway to the Kunene region in the north–western part of Namibia. The remote area south of the Kunene River is the home of the Himba people, who have kept their ethnic individuality and culture in the seclusion of Kaokoland.

Day 8–9 Epupa, Kunene

Continue to the most northerly point – the Kunene River creates the border between Namibia and Angola and where the water provides a much–needed relief to man and animal alike, casting a palm–lined oasis through the desert landscape. Although Epupa Falls are certainly not the biggest or highest in Africa, they do have their own signature when it comes to a seasonal waterfall, luring visitors to a series of cascades, where the Kunene River drops just 60m over a distance of about 1.5km. They subsequently divide into a mass of channels that form a myriad of rock pools and the region attracts many species of birds in a unique desert setting.

Day 10 Etosha National Park

Onward to Etosha, one of the best game reserves in Africa, entering the park through the western gate and the next days are spent exploring this wildlife haven.

Day 11 Etosha National Park

Game drive to Okaukuejo, the main rest camp of Etosha and famed for its floodlit waterhole where during the dry season hordes of game come to drink – watch out for herds of elephants, black rhino, predators such as lion and hyena and plains game.

Day 12 Etosha National Park

A final night in Etosha, explore more of this incredible park where terrain varies from open plains to bush and woodland finding some of the wildlife that criss–cross tracks en–route to waterholes where they congregate

Day 12 Ongava Lodge, Ongava Private Game Reserve (for Superior/Luxury version)

For the upgraded/luxury version of the trip, a night is spent on Ongava Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Etosha and one of the best lodges in the country, perhaps take part in a game drive on the reserve where white and black rhino and huge pride of lion are found. There’s also species such as waterbuck not found in the national park, and the chance to join a nocturnal drive to see species not spotted during the day.

Day 13 Okonjima Nature Reserve

Onward to Okonjima – this afternoon you’ll have close encounters with large predators such as cheetah or leopard and get some excellent photo opportunities. A highly recommended option

Day 14 Departure

If time permits, you may consider joining a further activity at Okonjima (own expense), then continue to Windhoek, perhaps stop at Okahandja, for some last–minute souvenir shopping at the craft markets where you can barter some gifts before returning to city. Drop off your vehicle and connect with your onward flight. End of services. No flights prior to mid–afternoon (later if joining activity)